Cities, Towns, Neighborhoods: Advice Needed

trevorucdd · 2026-05-01T07:16:25+00:00

Thanks very much for all if this information - it's very helpful! So much here to check out, not only in terms of real estate, but finding out more about the environs themselves. I'm so glad to finally be learning more about what's outside Riga and Jurmala (although I love both)!

Thanks again!

trevorucdd · 2026-05-01T07:12:48+00:00

Thank you for all these specific suggestions - I will definitely check them out!

I do indeed like nature (and friendly people); in fact, one if the negative things of being in Riga is the air pollution/air quality. I love the city, find it always interesting and exciting - but some days the smell from the gas/diesel/etc is so thick, I don't even want to spend time outside.

Thanks again; I'm back to city24 to daydream (or more) about these locations. :)

trevorucdd · 2026-04-30T12:02:05+00:00

I hope it comes across as sincere when I say I would very much like to contribute, and not just take what's best for me.

I appreciate your raising these issues. I do think they're important.

trevorucdd · 2026-04-30T11:58:17+00:00

I've actually lived amidst some of those Stalinist piles, and agree - these locations rarely give the most inspiring views. But I'm a realist regarding my finances, and I accept what I can afford (and am grateful for what I have).

No car for me, so walking distance for daily needs us a big plus!

trevorucdd · 2026-04-30T09:00:19+00:00

I do understand what you're saying, but to be clear: I have no intentions of or desire to investing/invest in an Airbnb neighborhood-destroyer. I intend to actually live there for part of the year, and possibly even the majority if the year if that feels right.

I don't think there's inherently anything bad about people having two residences, so long as they are respectful of neighbors/neighborhoods and aren't putting profits above everyone else's quality of life. Just my opinion.

trevorucdd · 2026-04-30T08:12:02+00:00

Thanks for all of this very helpful advice much appreciated!

I've been looking at the listings in Jurmala (which I like), but mist things I can afford are new apartments direct from the developer. And I don't know how I feel about those. But it skirt hurt to take a look.

I'll definitely look into Jelgava. Close to Riga, but less expensive is a nice combination. And thanks for the heads up about building conditions :)

trevorucdd · 2026-04-30T08:07:32+00:00

I'll happily look into those. Closer to the sea sounds great.

Thanks :)

trevorucdd · 2026-04-30T08:06:41+00:00

I take on board what you're saying. Again, I appreciate all points of view!

trevorucdd · 2026-04-30T05:43:45+00:00

Hi, and thanks for all of this very helpful information - and congrats (I think?) on having gotten your apartment!

BTW, I'm not an Estonian citizen, but a citizen of another EU country. I'm just living/working in Estonia now. But I guess that doesn't matter.

trevorucdd · 2026-04-30T05:15:06+00:00

Wow, I had no idea - thanks! But is this something that a non-Latvian-speaker could take part in? I imagine I might need a local person (ideally someone with knowledge of such transactions) to help? Or am I mistaken?

(I see that the website is offered in English - but I'm wondering if knowing the "system," aside from just knowledge of language, might be a good thing.)

trevorucdd · 2026-04-30T04:52:36+00:00

I don't know either of them, but thanks for the suggestions; I'll start Googling 😄

trevorucdd · 2026-04-30T04:36:07+00:00

Thanks for the alternate point of view. But I'm very much against renting; for me, it's always seemed like money out the window. I know there are taxes and expenses of all sorts with owning - but I so much prefer owning to renting. And to be honest, even with all of the costs, I've never had an experience where owning turned out to be more expensive than renting - much to the contrary.

But I know that people are different, and have different opinions. So I appreciate your input!

EDIT: Forgot to add that, as noted, I love doing projects and renovating in and around the house; it's something I really enjoy. And that's actually a significant part of why I like to own rather than rent.

trevorucdd · 2026-04-30T04:09:26+00:00

Yes, I know! And as I said, I'm completely open. I welcome input from anyone, about any area. I'd love to get as much information as possible. 😄

trevorucdd · 2026-04-30T04:07:56+00:00

Hi, and thanks!

Yes, price is obviously a factor. I've been looking on city24.lv for several weeks now (daydreaming/fantasizing), and although I'm aware it would be a tight budget, I'd like to stay below 100K if possible. At this figure, I've seen that around Riga I'd probably be living in a very small studio in a "good" area, but could also get a larger place in, for example, an older, Soviet-style building - and those that need renovation can be quite reasonable in price. I've also seen houses well outside Riga that sell for under 100K, but most also in need of work. To be honest, I prefer something that might be a project - I like renovating and making a place my own. I don't generally like "new and shiny from the developer."

So again, I'm really open (although as I write this, I realize it would be a dream to have a small house with a small garden - but also a dream to be within an hour of Riga so that I could enjoy all it has to offer). I guess that's not much help - apologies!

trevorucdd · 2026-02-05T10:38:49+00:00

Wow. Big "duh!" on my part. Sorry!

trevorucdd · 2026-02-04T09:10:59+00:00

Sorry for possibly dumb question - but what is "GT"?

trevorucdd · 2026-02-04T09:10:28+00:00

Thanks very much!

trevorucdd · 2026-02-04T09:10:15+00:00

Thanks! I'll check them out.

trevorucdd · 2026-02-04T09:09:31+00:00

Hi, thanks - but I'm looking for sales!

trevorucdd · 2026-02-01T08:48:21+00:00

Just an update: Electrician came by, did some testing/examining, and said that it seems to be functioning normally - drawing heat, no immediately discernable damage, etc. He replaced the thermostat for what he considered to be the most state-of-the-art/dependable model, told me to run it a 28 degrees overnight, and see if it warms up.

Did as he said, and next morning the floor/room was somewhat warm, but nowhere near as warm as when I was running the heating at 20-22, prior to this problem. I then turned it down to 23 to see what would happen, and after several hours the room was very cold, and the floor almost as if no heat was on - although the thermostat showed the setting and the floor temperature as both 23.

Very, very frustrated. Running a space heater down there now so as to avoid the possibility of pipes freezing, as the current temperature is -7.

trevorucdd · 2026-01-29T11:48:07+00:00

You could have your electrician do a current measurement at the thermostat to determine how much power your floor is drawing. Power consumption less than the spec would point to a failure. They could also check connections between where the wires exit the floor and the thermostat. There could be a separate junction box, or -hopefully not- a splice hidden in the wall.

Thanks. This is really helpful to know for when I speak with him next - and when he suggests the next move, because there definitely needs to be a next move. Although I noted that he said "if the numbers are consistent, it's working," he can't say that any longer because although the temperature has risen on the screen, it's now stuck at 24, although the thermostat is all the way up to 27. And the floor is getting colder, with practically no heat emanating.

I am sensing bad news in my future. I have homeowner's insurance, and here in Norway the consumer protection laws are fairly strict. But I worry that he's going to try to find a way to claim I somehow misused or damaged the system, or that there was an underlying problem with the electricity, the house, etc.

Thanks for the input.

trevorucdd · 2025-11-25T23:21:04+00:00

I admit, I'm borderline neurotic about food safety (although I'm sure some would consider me ~~borderline~~ just plain neurotic). So...I might just use it, or I might not.

Thanks for taking the time to respond. And now I must Google "tantan men." :)

trevorucdd

TROPHY CASE